C Frennesson, S E G Nilsson
Linköping University, Dept of Ophthalmology, Linköping, Sweden
Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcome of photodynamic treatment with Visudyne (Verteporfin) in AMD patients compared to the results of the TAP and VIP studies.
Methods: In a series of 80 consecutive patients, referred to our department for photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Visudyne, the treatment has till now been completed in 28 patients with exudative AMD and subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Twenty-seven patients had predominantly classic CNV and one patient had a 100% occult CNV. Mean age was 77.4 years (SD +/- 5.0). Treatment was applied according to the recommendations from the TAP and VIP studies. The patients were scheduled for follow-up examinations every 12 weeks, including visual acuity (ETDRS-chart), biomicroscopy of the posterior segment (dilated) and fluorescein angiography and were retreated if the angiography revealed significant leakage from CNV.
Results: To complete treatment, a mean of 3.4 treatments was given (range 1-6). Visual acuity at baseline was 19 letters (~0.2) on average. In 68% of the patients, visual acuity remained stable, whereas 29% lost 15 letters or more and 3% lost 30 letters or more on the ETDRS-chart. Final visual acuity was 0.1 or better in 61% of the patients. A larger patient material will be presented at the conference.
Conclusion: Sixty-one % of the patients preserved a visual acuity allowing low vision rehabilitation with simple optical devices. Fewer treatments than in the TAP-study, on average, were needed to stabilise vision.
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